Episoder
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Joe, the Assistant Director at Camp Blue Sky, offers valuable advice for first-time campers: “Come with a lot of positive mental attitude because it’s going to be a great summer.” He highlights the importance of bringing comfort items to camp to ease homesickness and maintain a positive mindset. For those worried about making new friends, especially shy campers or those arriving without familiar faces, Joe reassures them with tales of the camp’s welcoming atmosphere and engaging icebreaker activities that connect everyone from day one.
He provides a sneak peak into a typical day at camp, bustling with activities such as bouldering, kayaking, and themed evening programs suitable for all ages. He also discusses specially tailored backpacking trips that offer fun and appropriate challenges based on camper age.
Joe encourages future campers to embrace the summer with enthusiasm and an open mind, ready to dive into new adventures at Camp Blue Sky.
Quotes
“If it’s your first time outside of your home, if it’s the first time that you’re staying outside, bring your favorite stuffed animal, bring your favorite toy, bring your favorite pajamas, your favorite blankets… If you’re shy or anything, don’t worry… All of the people here are going to be really, really great for you and really fun people to talk to… And I’m really sure that you’re going to like every single activity, every single meal. So yeah, it’s just a really great time. So try to come with a great sense of positive mental attitude so you can enjoy every single day here at AVID. (02:04 | Joe Lievano) “My best recommendation is just be yourself. Talk about things you like. You’re going to meet a lot of people with common interests. (03:05 | Joe Lievano)“It’s always a little bit overwhelming to come to a place where you don’t know anyone. But it’s always really rewarding. And it has been one of my favorite experiences of my whole life.” (03:58 | Joe Lievano) “It’s just going to be a great experience. Come with a lot of positive mental attitude because it’s going to be a great summer.” (12:14 | Joe Lievano)Links
Learn more about Camp Blue Sky:
https://avid4.com/mt-evans-camps
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“I needed to practice at hearing other people better, and how they engage with the same landscapes that I love, on their terms,” says today’s guest Owen Yager. Learning about and working to represent other people’s stories is the common theme that unites the seemingly disparate elements of Owen’s story. Once he realized that people’s religion and traditions are the ultimate form of story, he went from an English major in undergrad to studying at Harvard Divinity School. As a land steward with Colorado Cattleman’s Land Trust, he works to help create conversations and collaborations between what have historically been oppositional relationships between the agriculture and conservation spaces, and between landowners and the rural citizens who have been traditionally sidelined.
All parties—from private landowners to guides to recreationalists—share the same hopes and goals for the land. Owen works to engage them all to ultimately form a shared vision for cultural and land management of the American West.
On today’s episode of the Avid Adventurer, Owen and host Dave Secunda discuss leading rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold and whether they are the new Emerson and Thoreau, helping to translate the divine in nature to a new generation.
Quotes
“Those great novels that you read in English class, you’re thinking about the storytelling. And you’re thinking about what fuels you in that story, and religion is that to an extreme. It’s the stories that actually make people do things. It’s the stories that make you go and spend three hours of your morning every Sunday, reflecting and meditating, that make you say grace before you have a meal. Whatever it might be, people take those stories, those traditions and build lives around them in really powerful, really beautiful ways.” (7:22 | Owen Yager) “People care about what they think, what they believe, what fuels them. I had this deep-seated sense that I wasn’t good enough at hearing their stories yet. That’s what brought me… to Harvard Divinity School, was this sense that I needed to practice at hearing other people better, and how they engage with the same landscapes that I love, on their terms.” (12:48 | Owen Yager)“Part of where I’m coming from is a deep love of that space, of engagement with land and animals and an engagement with working land as a space of realizing personal fulfillment. I love the people that I’ve gotten to know in those spaces as good, fun, honest, hardworking people that make incredible partners.” (23:38 | Owen Yager)“All these people who had power over their landscapes, and deep engagement with their landscapes and deep love for their landscapes, all these people weren’t getting powerfully engaged in conversations that I was seeing. And I really wanted to help with that and to help those folks get heard and help those folks get engaged as equal footing partners not as people to be told what to do but to really empower them in their landscapes.”(25:42 | Owen Yager) “There is this shared sense of want for what land management and the concurrent cultural management of the American West should look like. Everybody who’s a stakeholder wants to have healthy wildlife; everybody who’s a stakeholder wants to have a healthy watershed.” (31:02 | Owen Yager)Links
You can find more information on the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust’s working landscape conservation work at ccalt.org, and Owen be reached at [email protected]
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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Advice to first-time campers? "Try everything," says Kendra, a seasoned adventurer at just 15 years old with over 15 camps under her belt. "Because even if it seems scary at the moment, 99% of the time it's actually really fun." Kicking off a series of advice for new campers, Kendra shares insights from her experiences at Avid Adventure’s quintessential sleep-away location, Camp Windy Peak in Bailey, Colorado. She describes a typical day in the Rocky Mountain camp packed with diverse activities, from relaxing yoga and baking to adrenaline-fueled rock climbing and whitewater rafting. She also expresses her fondness for evenings spent playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) at camp.
Her guidance for newcomers is both sincere and practical—seize every chance to make friends and try out new activities, even those that might initially seem intimidating. Kendra reflects on her own early reservations and the supportive camp community that helped her push past these fears.
Looking at the lasting effects of her camp experiences, Kendra acknowledges how they have boosted her social skills and aided her in setting personal goals. She emphasizes that the positive mindset cultivated at camp has been key to her personal development.
Quotes
“Some advice I would give is definitely to try and make friends. Because my first year of camp, I was super shy. And I'm like, ‘I don't want to talk to you.’ But everyone there is really nice. And I've actually never had a bad experience. Also, I would advise that you try everything. Because even if it seems scary at the moment, like 99% of the time it's actually really fun. And if you don't do it, you might regret it.” (02:44 | Kendra Ritchie) “I personally love bringing a deck of cards because a lot of people there know how to play card games. And if you don't, then it's a conversation starter.” (04:08 | Kendra Ritchie)“One word that I'd give all of my instructors that I've had is fun. I love all my instructors.” (05:05 | Kendra Ritchie)“Whenever I'm tree climbing, every single year, I always try to reach a different part of the tree because I cannot climb trees. And that's also like it for rock climbing. So it's just like setting little goals and having a positive mindset. I feel like I've taken a lot of that.” (06:41 | Kendra Ritchie)Links
Learn more about Camp Windy Peak:
https://avid4.com/windy-peak-camps
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“I get to do something for others and I get to do something for myself,” says Stephen Allen about the balance he strikes in his life as a housing case manager in Boulder, Colorado from 9-5 and rock climbing in his down time. His lifelong love of the outdoors is so infectious he has been dubbed by Avid 4 Adventure campers and their parents as the “Czar of Stoke”. On today’s episode of The Avid Adventurer, he tells host Dave Secunda how he earned his title, including a hilarious story of misunderstanding with one parent in particular. Just as important as getting campers excited for the outdoors is putting them at ease. Stephen explains how he builds trust with his campers by honoring their fear and hesitation.
There are a lot of similarities between outdoor sports and therapy, Stephen explains, and campers work on issues such as goal setting, stress management and others. He talks about the benefits of adventure therapy, and the importance of encouraging campers to learn to live with risk, recognize the benefits, and make the best choices for themselves.
Quotes
“I love going to the climbing gym after work because I have time to. It’s such a fun way to, after really being in my brain a lot, to drop down in my body, to move, to play. And sometimes after having conversations in my day that can be a test, can be stressful, really dropping into play is kind of how I disconnect with that.” (7:17 | Stephen Allen)“That was a conscious choice every day; that was not just this natural way of being. It was a choice that I did my best to make every day—and I certainly didn’t make it every day—just to be really excited about what’s going on and to…see what awesome things they were bringing today and pull all that awesomeness out.” (10:25 | Stephen Allen) “Riding a mountain bike or even going through a high ropes course, that look nothing like a therapist’s office, totally different, and yet there’s kind of this overlap of what you can get out of those.” (17:49 | Stephen Allen) “In addition to empowering kids to choose these active outdoor lifestyles we also want to empower kids to be able to evaluate and choose appropriate risks in their lives.” (22:13 | Stephen Allen)“Something I would really try to constantly push myself to be in and challenge my co-instructors to be in is to try to imagine what it would be like to have it be your first time.” (39:59 | Stephen Allen)Links
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“The world will only be as small as you let it, until you allow the world to be bigger than you know it,” says Eddie Mockus, licensed psychologist and founder of the Boulder Center for Family and Behavioral Health in Boulder, Colorado. He joins the Avid Adventurer podcast to delve into the power of our thoughts and the importance of managing anxiety while navigating and mitigating risks. Eddie shares how trusting our hearts and bodies as much as our intellect can lead to significant personal growth. He also recounts his own journey of leading with the heart and watching his clients embrace their vulnerabilities and find their rightful place in the world.
In a city like Boulder, often dubbed "the epicenter of the Instagram outdoors," the pressures of conforming to a certain aesthetic or level of athleticism can make some feel out of place. Eddie discusses how he assists young people and their families in realizing that there's no single correct way to enjoy the outdoors and that it's accessible to everyone. This environment also offers valuable lessons in listening, distinguishing between perceived and actual risks, and maintaining competence even in discomfort.
Eddie stresses that the answers lie within us; we simply need to slow down and listen. In today's episode, he also introduces new therapeutic techniques that go beyond Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), teaching us how to accept negative thoughts and act despite them.
Quotes
“Even in these past few years, how big of a deep dive I’ve taken in that direction to really not just practice being a good steward of my thoughts and my actions but really being a good steward of learning my heart and what my heart is telling me and being more heart open and actually allowing things like intuition to guide me, not necessarily being such an academic and using all my logic to guide every move.”(5:15 | Eddie Mockus) “Your brain is ultimately in control of a lot of the thoughts that you’ve had. Your past training and programming in life is ultimately in control of the thoughts that you get, but you yourself are actually in more control than you think of what you can focus on.” (10:17 | Eddie Mockus)“There’s not a single thing you need to do to be OK. You just are.” (25:57 | Eddie Mockus) “When I think of access to the outdoors, what the outdoor community can do or what the outdoor lifestyle can do, it’s a way of just simply connecting with something greater than yourself.” (29:13 | Eddie Mockus)Links
Connect with Eddie Mockus:
www.boulderfamilyhealth.com
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“Being outdoors, I think, ‘Man, this world was created in such a way to glorify God.” The outdoors has taught Hannah Green some invaluable lessons and skills. Growing up a shy kid, hesitant to join in activities for fear of not measuring up, working at Avid 4 Adventures was one of many instances in which pushing past her fears led to some of her greatest life experiences. Hannah joins host Dave Secunda to discuss her calling to minister in the outdoors setting, where, among the diversity of people in the industry, a shared love of the natural world creates common spiritual ground.
Hannah’s story illustrates that choosing faith over fear leads on to great adventures. She explains how she talks herself through her scariest moments, how she’s learned to listen seriously to her gut instinct but also to laugh at herself. Everyone worries that they’re not good enough, but the best way to learn anything new is just by trying.
Patience, endurance, and community are as vital to the outdoors as they are to everyday life. On today’s episode of The Avid Adventurer, she’ll explain how she’s now instilling these values in others.
Quotes
“In the past couple of years, I’ve done a lot of work to notice the big and the small. As much as I love Yellowstone and climbing in the Rocky Mountains, I also love the little stream that runs through my neighborhood, and I love the baby ferns that spring up every spring in the park where I work. It took me a long time to realize that I don’t have to fit the ‘outdoorsy’ stereotype to be in the outdoors.” (3:51 | Hannah Green)“I’ve pursued a lot of things that really scared me and that I was really nervous for, but those have turned out to be the best moments. Some of those things are really big jobs—I was terrified to work for Avid—but those were three of the best summers of my life. But also the small things, like meeting a new friend, or asking a coworker to hang out outside of work, those are really scary things but those have been the most cool things in my life.” (5:47 | Hannah Green)“I believe this world was created intentionally, so being able to be outdoors and think, ‘Man, this was created in such a way to glorify God and also to bring humans and animals and all living things enjoyment. Being able to not just find quiet in the outdoors but to think wow, these things were so intentionally created for the glory of God and for my enjoyment.” (11:33 | Hannah Green) “When I come across something, whether it’s in the outdoors, or just a difficult season in my life, or anything like that, I often think, ‘Hannah, you’ve done harder things than this.’ And even if I haven’t, and this is truly the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I can look back on those hard things and think, ‘Man, one, look at how God brought you through that. Look at how faithful He was in that.’ And secondly, the patience that you learned, the endurance that it took, a lot of those things I learned outside.” (20:19 | Hannah Green)Links
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“To think, if we had never gone to Avid, then we probably wouldn’t be the same people,” says 12-year-old Kaylin, who joins the Avid Adventurer podcast with her 15-year-old sister Kendra to discuss the personal transformations they’ve each undergone since first enrolling as campers at Avid 4 Adventures. Though neither had any interest in the outdoors originally, they were motivated to attend camp after experiencing a major family loss. On today’s episode, they tell host Dave Secunda what they learned about overcoming obstacles, and how they’ve become more patient, outgoing, judicious and responsible people in their everyday lives.
Positive thinking is more than just chanting feel-good slogans, Kendra explains, it’s about adopting a growth mindset. Kaylin describes the experiment she tried during volleyball practice at school and what it taught her about the power of positive self-talk, and what repelling down the side of a mountain taught her about overcoming fear. They discuss their future career plans, both of which were inspired by their time with Avid and why Kaylin is so passionate about the principles of the Leave No Trace policy.
Learn where the girls are headed next and given their new sense of self-reliance and independence, why their mother feels at peace in sending them there. Hear Kendra explain how backpacking changes your brain chemistry and Kaylin’s crazy experience during a flash flood in Wyoming!
Quotes
“To think, if we had never gone to ‘Avid,’ then we probably would never have been the same people.” (6:17 | Kaylin) “The power of being able to overcome is something that everyone needs in their life. Overcoming, you use it every single day, and whenever you overcome something that means that you’ve either completed the goal, or gotten over a fear, or your life is going to be for the better because you’ve decided to overcome what could have been scaring you or what should have happened sooner but never did.” (11:21 | Kendra)“Everyone does this, it’s not just a personal thing, but you’re doing something and then you say, ‘I can’t do this. I’m not good enough at this.’ It’s just a negative mindset. Did you ever hear of growth and fixed mindset? That’s a fixed mindset, thinking you’re not going to ever be able to do something. But having a positive mindset definitely changes everything. Thinking you can do something will definitely make you more likely to strive to go.” (17:29 | Kendra) “I do volleyball, and I decided to test something. Since I do it twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, on Monday I decided to cheer myself on whenever I did something good and then on Thursday I didn’t really do anything. And then on Monday, I realized that I did better than I did on Thursday, and so I realized that if you’re cheering yourself on when you’re doing something good then you’re just basically rewarding yourself when you do something good, you know? So, I think it’s better when you just tell yourself, ‘Yeah, good job.’” (20:51 | Kaylin)“All of these experiences backpacking, even go into the real world. You need to know how to push through, you need to know how to work in a team, you need to know what you like and don’t like.” (28:56 | Kendra)“It brings my mom a sense of peace knowing that we know how to advocate for ourselves and that we know how to be independent and responsible, even when we’re not around her.” (33:58 | Kendra)Links
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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Lucy Kohara's first camping experience with Avid4 Adventure in 2018 completely transformed her life, influencing her interests and shaping who she has become. A few years after her initial experience, she came back as a counselor. This summer, she's excited to take on the role of a support specialist, merging her love for the outdoors with her psychology studies in college. In the latest episode of The Avid Adventurer, Lucille shares unforgettable camp memories with host Dave Secunda, from her time as both a camper and a counselor. She recalls a moment so perfect, she describes it as heavenly.
As a camp leader, she quickly became a popular and trusted confidante, encouraging campers to express themselves and their identities freely, helping them through homesickness and never giving up on them even when they resisted. She insists, though, that as much as they may learn from her, she learns just as much from them.
Campers and fellow counselors, they’re all just friends—even family. Learn why disconnecting from social media is key to their connecting with each other, both during their sessions at Camp Blue Sky and beyond. Hear Lucille share anecdotes about some of her standout campers and the lessons they’ve taught her.
Quotes
“When my parents first sent me to camp, at first I thought, ‘Oh, My God, this is going to be the worst thing in the entire world. But it totally changed my outlook on life, changed the things that I liked to do and the person I am now.” (2:53 | Lucille Kohara) “I just remember thinking, ‘This is exactly what I would picture heaven to be like, this is what I hope heaven is like. If I die one day, this is what I hope I come back to. It was so surreal.” (14:38 | Lucille Kohara)“It felt so good knowing that there were so many people who felt like my presence and my support were beneficial to them. I can’t wait to see all those kids this summer because I’m so excited to see how they’ve grown, but I also just can’t wait to help support kids in that same way, whatever special support they may need.” (21:24 | Lucille Kohara)“The kids are a lot smarter than you think and they definitely have a lot more self-actualization. They’re very self-aware, sometimes. And it can be difficult to express yourself when you feel so different, but how can we celebrate those differences, and how can we show our kids that you don’t need to surround yourself with people who identify exactly the same as you?” (27:39 | Lucille Kohara)Links
Connect with Lucille Kohara:
Instagram: lucy.kohara
Connect with Avid4 Adventure:
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“I would consider playing live music similar to what climbers feel when doing stuff like free soloing. It’s a performance,” says Joe Lievano, who joins the Avid Adventurer podcast from Pueblo, Mexico to talk about these dual passions. As it turns out, scaling rocks and drumming in a rock band have more in common than one might think. With both, he says, you’re not competing with anyone but yourself, trying to be better with each try, yet you also find a profound connection and sense of community with those around you. In Mexico, he explains, neither music nor rock climbing are particularly popular or well-received. He explains how he brought his mother around to the idea of his pursuing both, and gives advice for parents who are equally nervous to enroll their kids in outdoor sports.
Joe wasn’t always an outdoor enthusiast. Though he discovered rock climbing at the age of 15, he took a long hiatus due to injury and wasn’t passionate about the sport until others took the time to show him the beauty and fun of the outdoors and the importance of preserving it. This summer, he will return the favor for a new group of campers when he returns to Avid4 Adventure as an Assistant Director at Avid’s Blue Sky camp.
There he hopes to recreate the same feeling of welcome and belonging for campers that he felt working with Avid4 Adventure in the past. In this episode, he explains how he plans to create an unforgettable experience for his campers, particularly as a member of the DEI committee. Having been lucky enough to find two life passions, he is eager to help others find theirs, too.
Quotes
“Team-based sports are not my thing. I don’t like competing with another person, or making someone else lose so I can win. So, climbing, that was something I fell in love with because that was only [me] against myself.” (4:44 | Joe Lievano)“Another thing that really helps out parents is learning a little bit about [the sport]. Many times, you hear something and you have this misconception of it and you can never get that conception of activities out of your mind. So, if your kid wants to climb, to do mountain biking, try to learn a little bit about it. Learn about the actual processes of it, how dangerous that can actually be, the actual dangers of it.” (9:19 | Joe Lievano) “It’s just a different language that musicians speak without words. You’re just vibing.” (20:18 | Joe Lievano)“I got this great experience of knowing a kid had a great time and knowing that my impact during the summer can withstand more years to come. Sometimes at camp you get to teach a kid how to ride a bike. Maybe they’ll never remember this year of school, the teachers they had or the friends they had at elementary, but they’re always going to remember who taught them how to ride a bike, and their first time climbing and their first time mountain biking.” (28:18 | Joe Lievano)Links
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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Jackson Anderson is a self-described jack-of-all-trades. At any given moment you can find the 11-year-old enjoying everything from mountain biking and rock climbing to playing video games with his friends and even beatboxing! He explains that, as someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), he gets bored easily with any one activity. Yet, when he does discover something he’s interested in, he can absorb himself in it for hours on end.
He also has an incredible mind for risk assessment. He understands that fear is part of outdoor experience, and knows when to follow his keen intuition. When approaching any task, whether it’s navigating a mountain trail or settling down to a school assignment, he naturally applies what’s known as the Risk Matrix. He describes an accident that took place during a group mountain biking activity and how it influenced the way he views the sport.
After listening to this episode of The Avid Adventurer, you’ll understand why host Dave Secunda believes Jackson has a bright future in risk management if he wants one. Jackson shares his number one rule for parents to follow when deciding whether to enroll their children in outdoor activities, and the most important thing to remember once their children are enrolled!
Quotes
“I am a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to a really odd skillset.” (2:15 | Jackson Anderson)“Because I have ADHD my brain gets incredibly bored when I do too much of the same thing. I’ll be playing video games and think, ‘I’m bored of this.’ And then I’ll go hang out with friends or something and say, ‘I’m bored of this.’ And I’ll go back to playing video games.” (6:43 | Jackson Anderson)“That is one of the pros of the type of ADHD I have. If I want to, I can stay focused on one thing and not even notice if something else happens.” (8:30 | Jackson Anderson) “Being scared is a thing. It’s going to happen.” (13:52 | Jackson Anderson)“Sometimes my brain just says, ‘No.’ Even if I’ve done stuff that’s worse than that and been fine.” (15:12 | Jackson Anderson)“I look at something and my brain, no matter what type of thing it is, even if it’s writing or reading or something and my brain says, ‘How can this go wrong? What happens if this goes wrong? And what is the probability of it going wrong?’” (17:09 | Jackson Anderson)Links
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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When there is an issue that needs solving in the community, Rafa Rebello steps up. After moving to Lençóis in northeast Brazil, he realized that local residents rarely enjoyed the stunning mountains of Chapada Diamantina National Park, despite living right at their feet. As it is in so many parts of the world, mountain climbing in Brazil is almost exclusively enjoyed by affluent people, more specifically cis white males.
In conjunction with a growing interest and activism in diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the field of mountaineering, Rafa, a climber, guide, outdoor educator and activist, founded Coletivo de Escalada de Lençóis. This nonprofit takes underserved, mostly BIPOC young people from the local community on weekly sport climbing and bouldering trips in the area, teaching them the basics and providing opportunities for professional development. In 2023, Rafa, who works with Avid4 Adventure as a talent acquisition specialist, facilitated the first BIPOC climbing event in Brazil, hosting climbing clinics in the country’s capital of Brasilia.
His willingness to learn and to enjoy life is a big part of why Rafa loves to work with young people. Mountaineering and bouldering is where he discovered his true self and the courage to live his most authentic life. Through continued DEI activism and journalism, his work with his collective and as a member of Avid4 Adventure’s JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion), he is determined to make sure others get to experience the same thrilling highs of the outdoor life.
Quotes
“When I got here seven years ago, I saw most of the climbing scene had a lot of people that weren’t from the city, mostly cis, white men and affluent people, there were no local people climbing. And the climbing potential is the thing that brought me here—it’s huge, there are rocks everywhere. So, I was looking at this place like, ‘OK, it’s like these people live in Hawaii, but no one’s willing to teach them to surf and they don’t have surf boards.” (11:10 | Rafa Rebello) “Working with kids gives you that opportunity to just be silly or to have fun or to play around. As adults, sometimes I think we put ourselves in those boxes of ‘I have to be serious,’ and sometimes you don’t. And that’s totally OK.” (29:40 | Rafa Rebello)“Especially because I’m doing international hirings, I have to talk to people from different countries, different cultures, with different possibilities and opportunities in life. We have to make sure, during the process, that that process is inclusive for everyone. That’s my main concern always, overall, that people should feel included and should see that effort by Avid. And I feel like we do a pretty amazing job on that.” (35:01 | Rafa Rebello) “I see climbing as art, it’s a choreography on the rock. For me, it’s like dancing.” (38:00 | Rafa Rebello) “Let’s picture me 12 years ago: you wouldn’t see this hair, you wouldn’t see this beard, you would see me wearing a suit, shaving every day, and probably not with this smile. Because I was sitting in an office, doing meetings, not happy with what I wanted to do in this life. So, something that was a game changer for me was saying, ‘I’m not going to spend my whole life waiting for the right moment to live my dreams.” (43:34 | Rafa Rebello)Links
Connect with Rafa Rebello:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rafahrebello
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafah.rebello/
Non profit - Coletivo de Escalada de Lençóis at: https://www.instagram.com/escalalec/?ref=8101&hl=ko--
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“I see us all as seeds, as little bundles of potential that can grow into something pretty unimaginable,” says Seed Levine, a young farmer and poet, who joins the Avid Adventurer podcast from the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii, off grid, where they are farming food on a quarter acre of their family’s land. Seed is on a mission to feed the community, and give back to the earth all it has given to them.
In their youth, Seed developed what ostensibly looked like a passion for the outdoors but this passion was really a need to escape their inner life. Their true sanctuary was found in the garden, amidst their “farm-ily”, growing root vegetables and becoming an authority on seed saving. There they found their true self, and chose to dedicate their life to producing seeds and celebrating all that seeds grow and become.
They discuss their current goal, to become a mass producer of carrots, radish and beets, which are, traditionally, difficult to grow in the tropics. This is part of an even greater long term plan to help Hawaii, which currently imports more than 90 percent of its goods and an even greater percent of its produce, grow more of its own vegetables. Hear their inspiring vision for creating large scale production that won’t disturb the land or the people.
Quotes
“Food and seeds and the act of growing has been a passion of mine since the 6th grade if not before, and it’s been the one activity that has been consistent throughout my life in that it’s been the one thing that when I’m engaged in, I feel like myself. There’s no other way that I can accurately define who I am truthfully than that of the seed.” (3:46 | Seed)“When I was in the garden, everything was moving in slow motion, and I wanted to be there as long as possible and I wanted to feel myself. So rather than run away from myself, I wanted to be there present with myself with my thoughts in the garden. I felt held, I felt supported, I felt understood.” (17:41 | Seed) “The plants, the animals, the seeds working together in synergy to create an environment that was this cradle that I needed in order to come back down to earth.” (18:36 | Seed) “This was this nurturing experience that I felt I needed to come down to earth and to stay on this earth, and I attribute the garden–my ‘farm-ily,’ I call it, to my continued existence here. And also my family, of course.” (19:28 | Seed)“I don’t see myself as this controller or manager of Mother Nature, but I see myself as a part of it and as a servant to the earth.” (23:37 | Seed)“I’m here to speak for the seed. That’s who I am. So, at that moment I decided to choose life and realized if I’m going to be alive, I don’t want to live a lie, because my past had been a lie previous to that moment.” (30:12 | Seed)“I was pretty opposed to many man made objects in my younger years, and have now become aware of the fact that it’s really how these incredible creations are used that reflect their merit, and not what they are and how they’ve come about.” (45:54 | Seed)“There are pros and cons to all practices, and acknowledging the agroecology surrounding us all and the core mission of feeding, nourishing and nurturing both the people and the planet. As long as I hold that true to my heart, I’m not going to be swayed by certain alternative motives. The main goal is to produce as much food as possible, but not at the peril of myself, the people or the land.” (50:31 | Seed)Links
Connect with Seed Levine:
To connect with Seed, you can email them at [email protected]
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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“I had this perception that nothing bad could happen to me in the outdoors, and this was a massive wakeup call,” says climber and mountaineer Matt Moniz, of living through an avalanche that claimed nearly two dozen lives when it swept over basecamp on Mt. Everest as the result of an earthquake in Nepal. Still only a teenager, Matt leapt into action performing a search and rescue mission over the following days, and staying in Nepal for another month, ready to help. Though this experience has made him rethink his risk assessment and tolerance, his attitude remains, as it has always been, humble.
Though he has completed the highest peaks in all 50 states and all of Colorado’s 14-ers in the fastest time, Matt is still eager to be a novice. While a student at Dartmouth, he took up whitewater rafting and endured all the highs and occasionally embarrassing lows of learning a new sport. With all of the new skills and certifications he acquires and adventures he undertakes, he is most interested in showing other people the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, with the ultimate goal of preserving it for future generations.
Matt credits the key people in his life, including his father, for shaping his attitude toward the outdoors and his aptitude for outdoor sport, and emphasizes the importance of having mentors. On today’s episode of Avid4 Adventure, Matt discusses the scientific study he conducted on Mt. Everest, learning to sail with his family, and his plans to combine his experiences into something unique. Quotes
“Being in a really amazing opportunity of privilege, to be able to go on these expeditions, to have this experience, to not share that with people almost feels like a crime to me. The outdoors, to me, is one of, if not the most valuable resources on the planet, and if we don’t inspire and get people in the outdoors, that resource won’t be enjoyed by future generations, which is really scary to me.” (7:37 | Matt Moniz)“It’s a very humbling experience being a beginner, in any activity. I definitely felt that. Having a mentor in the space who is willing to help push your limits but also willing to understand your concerns is really important. Those experiences and those mentors can really make or break your experience in the outdoors.” (10:26 | Matt Moniz)“Everything is risky in life. Driving down I-70 during a snowstorm is incredibly risky. Whatever your risk tolerance is, there’s no correct or wrong answer. I don’t go back country skiing on considerably high avalanche danger days, but that’s a calculus that people have to make on their own.” (29:28 | Matt Moniz) “It’s a fine line to balance. There were definitely times when my parents said, ‘You are not doing something,’ and at the time I thought it was ridiculous. Looking back on it, it was a very good judgment call, and one that I couldn’t make on my own. On the flip side, there were definitely experiences that I’ve had that were closer calls, that I’ve had to revise and rethink my risk tolerance in the outdoors, and the only way I could do that was to experience it on my own.” (34:05 | Matt Moniz)Links
Connect with Matt Moniz:
Instagram: matt-moniz
Twitter: climb7moniz
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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Meet Bayes Wilder, a 12-year-old climbing prodigy whose passion and prowess in climbing are as remarkable as his achievements. Bayes opens up about his love for climbing, an enthusiasm that is as infectious as it is inspiring. As a 5.14 climber, Bayes has not only earned the respect and admiration of his peers and climbing enthusiasts of all ages but has also excelled in MathCounts competitions at the state level, showcasing his problem-solving skills both on the rock and in the academic arena. His interests in puzzles and Rubik’s Cubes further underline his natural inclination towards solving complex problems.
Bayes’s deep connection with the outdoors traces back to his early childhood, nurtured by his parents, Sandy and Matt. Sandy, a former teacher, emphasized the importance of balancing educational pursuits with exploring the natural world, introducing Bayes to climbing trips across the United States from as young as two months old. Matt, sharing a lifelong passion for rock climbing, has played a crucial role in developing Bayes’s skills in a sport that demands both physical prowess and mental fortitude.
The episode also delves into the thoughtful approach taken by Matt and Sandy to mitigate and assess the risks involved in climbing. Through practicing in controlled environments and building trust with incremental challenges, they have created a supportive framework that acknowledges Bayes’s limitations while pushing the boundaries of his capabilities. Matt’s perspective on facing and dealing with failure offers a refreshing take on how overcoming obstacles can be a valuable part of personal and athletic development.
Despite his rising profile in the climbing community, Bayes maintains a humble demeanor, sharing his reluctance to be the center of attention but also revealing the mental preparation that goes into each climb. He describes a five-step process that helps him focus and prepare mentally for the challenges ahead, underscoring his disciplined approach to both climbing and life. Bayes’s dream of moving mountains to create his perfect day encapsulates not just his passion for climbing but also his boundless imagination and drive.
This episode of the podcast offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a young athlete who balances the demands of competitive climbing with the challenges of growing up. It’s a story of passion, dedication, and the supportive role of family in nurturing and safeguarding a young talent as he scales not only the literal heights of climbing but also the figurative peaks of adolescence. Bayes Wilder’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, the importance of problem-solving, and the enduring value of a supportive family foundation in the pursuit of excellence.
Quotes:
“I love doing all sorts of problems. I love solving the Rubik’s Cube and doing all sorts of different puzzles. I also love math.” (7:04 | Bayes Wilder)“I’m so happy that my parents were so helpful to me and enthusiastic about getting me outdoors and having fun with me, and not having me be on screens too much. I’m so happy that they did that. I’m glad I’m outdoors instead of being inside playing video games all the time, or watching TV. It’s so much more fun to be outside.” (10:55 | Bayes Wilder) “Before I’m about to attempt a really hard climb, I visualize the climb. I visualize myself climbing it perfectly—flawless and feeling so good on it. It builds a lot of confidence in me and helps me prepare for the climb and helps me to try my hardest.” (13:03 | Bayes) “There’s always a risk of failure and I think that’s really good for people to struggle with. The challenge in climbing is that sometimes failure can come with injury or danger.” (27:20 | Matt Wilder)Links
Connect with Bayes Wilder:
Instagram: @bayeswilder
YouTube: Bayes Wilder Climbing
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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12-year-old Rose Gadd, climber, gymnast, and skier, is wise beyond her years. She knows that understanding risk isn't about avoiding life's adventures; it's about knowing how to navigate them more safely. Today on The Avid Adventurer, we explore this profound insight with Rose and her father, Will Gadd, an extreme athlete and renowned outdoor educator. Together, they delve into the critical importance of risk assessment, not only in the exhilarating world of outdoor sports but also in the everyday decisions that shape our lives. Through their unique lens, we're introduced to a simple yet effective method for evaluating potential dangers, categorizing risks into three levels: Bumps and Bruises, Hospital, and Death. This approach, born from their shared experiences, provides listeners with a practical framework for making informed choices, whether facing the challenges of crossing a busy highway, ensuring safety at the airport, or enjoying family hiking trips.
The conversation with Rose and Will emphasizes the significance of not just identifying what could go wrong, but understanding why it might happen, empowering listeners with the knowledge to mitigate risks proactively. Will explains that teaching risk-awareness is less about instilling fear and more about equipping young adventurers with the necessary tools for independent and confident decision-making. This philosophy turns the concept of risk into a source of comfort rather than anxiety, showcasing the empowering impact of preparation and knowledge.
Rose's insights extend to overcoming 'embarrassment injury' and the broader implications of facing fear head-on, a stance supported by Will's belief that engaging with fear is the key to diminishing its power. Their dialogue offers invaluable lessons for listeners of all backgrounds, providing a fresh perspective on managing fear and risk in pursuit of adventure and fulfillment.
Join us for this enlightening episode of The Avid Adventurer, where the wisdom of a young athlete and the expertise of an extreme sports veteran converge to offer guidance on navigating life's risks with confidence and savvy.
Quotes:
“Basically, when you’re outside or doing anything that requires a risk, I pause to think and say, ‘If I get hurt in this situation, or if something goes wrong, would it fall into the bumps and bruises category, the hospital category, or the death category.’ And then I assess from there.”(4:36 | Rose Gadd) “Sometimes, I get very focused because I do so many things in the outdoors, but risk is something that goes across every aspect of life, including social aspects as well. You can have some of the same categories there.” (5:57 | David Secunda)“I’ve always asked questions when we’re out doing anything, from being in the city–Rose mentioned that, the busy road with the death potential, but just asking questions. ‘What’s going on here? Are we good, or do we need to do something different?’ I think from a very early age we’ve done that and I’ve encouraged the kids to be involved in that, and they really are.” (11:13 | Will Gadd) “The goal is not to scare Rose, the goal is to give her tools so she feels she can make the right decisions.” (12:14 | Will Gadd)“I guess you could even classify this to a social standard. Embarrassment injury. Something as simple as raising your hand in class to an answer you might not even know, that might be an example of a risk you could take with the worst possibility being embarrassment.” (16:31 | Rose Gadd)Links
Connect with Rose and Will Gadd:
Website: willgadd.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realwillgadd/
Connect with Avid4 Adventure:
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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‘OK, this is what’s happening. I’m on top of a massive rapid, I guess I just have to lock in,” says 17-year-old Ash Goldstein about navigating Colorado’s whitewater rapids. In the inaugural episode of The Avid Adventurer, we dive into the exhilarating and impactful journey of 17-year-old Ash Goldstein, a burgeoning leader in the whitewater kayaking community with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ash shares their experiences of navigating the challenging waters of Colorado's rapids, paralleling these physical challenges with their proactive approach to making the kayaking world a more welcoming space for all. Adopted from China and introduced to kayaking at an early age in Colorado’s Roaring Fork valley, Ash grew up with a passion for outdoor sports. However, they quickly recognized the need for a shift away from the conquering-focused, White settler mindset they feel is prevalent in outdoor activities. Through their work with organizations like Diversify Whitewater and their role as a camp counselor, Ash is actively working to change this narrative, focusing on inclusivity and community within the sport.
This episode not only highlights Ash's thrilling adventures and personal growth but also provides practical advice for parents wanting to introduce their children to outdoor sports. Ash discusses the balance between staying guarded and being a visible member of the kayaking community, emphasizing the importance of complete trust among team members on the water. Their story is a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have in challenging and changing the status quo, inspiring listeners to confront their own rapids, whether in outdoor adventures or personal endeavors towards creating more inclusive spaces.
Whether you're an avid adventurer, a parent looking to inspire your children with a love for the outdoors, or someone passionate about diversity and inclusion, this episode of The Avid Adventurer promises to engage and motivate you to make a difference in your world.
Quotes:
“I have spent a lot of time and am quite comfortable outdoors in ways that aren’t always the standard. And I think that was eye-opening to me in the sense of, ‘This is not an experience everyone has.’” (10:17 | Ash)“If your kid is singularly passionate about something, the best thing you can do is give them the skills to recognize risk themselves.” (12:01 | Ash)“I live in a primarily White state and so fundamentally, being an Asian adoptee created this tension. So for me, it became an issue of, ‘What can I do to mitigate that and form community, not just for me but also for every other individual who experiences something similar to me?’” (16:04 | Ash) “I didn’t want to exist in outdoor spaces in a way that kind of perpetuated that White settler mindset because it didn’t feel inclusive or supportive of all the people whom outdoor sports could be very beneficial to.” (17:01 | Ash) “I would consider myself pretty conservative, in general, in terms of sports. I’m here for a good time, I have nothing to prove, which I guess is a little countercultural, especially in the kayaking world.”(26:41 | Ash)“In kayaking, there’s a certain continuousness. And I think that continuousness creates this interesting dynamic because, on a certain level, it’s terrifying and it’s awful and risks can quickly multiply on each other. On the other hand it forces you into this very particular mindset. I think that’s probably the reason why I’m especially drawn to kayaking, where it’s, ‘OK, this is what’s happening. I’m on top of a massive rapid, I guess I just have to lock in.’” (28:03 | Ash)Links
Connect with Ash Goldstein:
Website: http://ashgoldsteinorourke.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ashofalltradez_/
Connect with Avid4 Adventure:
Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com
Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure
Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure
Email the host: [email protected]
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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Join us for deep and meaningful weekly inner views of kids, parents and outdoor guides as they navigate risk, compassion, limitations and upliftment found in their exploration of the outdoors. Mountain Biking, Climbing, Trekking or Paddling may be the front stage, but we’ll dig deep into what drives the avid adventurer in their quest to explore at the edge of their comfort zone. Join David Secunda, serial entrepreneur and Founder of Avid4 Adventure, for conversations that will change your lens of perception on adventure and support you in defining for yourself your journey forward in the outdoors.
